Heroic/Paragon/Epic - How Famous?

[Jack99]

As others have said, it depends. If there's a Bard in the party (oh wait, 4E doesn't have Bards - yet), especially one who's part of a bard's network, they could become well known far and wide fairly quickly. If they're into clandestine operations they will probably kill people who want to spread their fame!

Mouseferatu, XRP and Goodman Games might disagree with you..

 

[SKyOdin]

I'm gong to be contrarian, and suggest that fame has little to do with level, and has more to do with visibility.

What has the character done, where, and who talked about it? Has the character stood on the town walls and led the local militia in battle against the local bandit raiders, or has all the action been down in a dungeon against horrors unseen by anyone topside? Did the character do a small favor for the local baron, who had his bard write a ditty about the adventure, or has it all be secret action against a shadowy menace the locals haven't actually heard of?

Fame does not equate to level, or vice-versa.

I am actually inclined to say that high level PCs are very likely to become famous just by virtue of being very powerful, since that power can be so obvious that it will likely turn heads just as the PCs move around and go about regular things.

For example, let's look at the example of a group of PCs sitting in a bar when some random local tough comes up and starts a fight with them. One of the PCs decides to fight back.

Heroic Tier: The PC will probably beat up the local, but not without taking a scrape or two.
Paragon Tier: The PC will dispatch the local with ease, leaving no question that the PC is a man of great skill.
Epic Tier: The PC can flick the guy's forehead and practically knock him through a wall.

Heck, the sheer amount of wealth Paragon and Epic level PCs can carry around and spend freely will likely turn heads. Not to mention anything like Flying Carpets, Magnificent Mansions, stone figurines that turn into magical animals, etc.

So unless the PCs go out of their way to hide their power, it will probably turn heads at some point. And as soon as it has caught people's attention, the rumors will begin to spread.

 

[Angrydad]

I am actually inclined to say that high level PCs are very likely to become famous just by virtue of being very powerful, since that power can be so obvious that it will likely turn heads just as the PCs move around and go about regular things.

For example, let's look at the example of a group of PCs sitting in a bar when some random local tough comes up and starts a fight with them. One of the PCs decides to fight back.

Heroic Tier: The PC will probably beat up the local, but not without taking a scrape or two.
Paragon Tier: The PC will dispatch the local with ease, leaving no question that the PC is a man of great skill.
Epic Tier: The PC can flick the guy's forehead and practically knock him through a wall.

Heck, the sheer amount of wealth Paragon and Epic level PCs can carry around and spend freely will likely turn heads. Not to mention anything like Flying Carpets, Magnificent Mansions, stone figurines that turn into magical animals, etc.

So unless the PCs go out of their way to hide their power, it will probably turn heads at some point. And as soon as it has caught people's attention, the rumors will begin to spread.

There is still a chance that higher level characters can avoid fame, but as you said, the seemingly casual displays of amazing power will soon spread and tales of the heroes' prowess will undoubtedly follow. It's important to remember that even mid level powers are going to be impressive to the general populace, so displaying them will result in some attention.

 

[Holy Bovine]

Mouseferatu, XRP and Goodman Games might disagree with you..

It really is a freaking awesome book ain't it?

I like Umbran's suggestion that fame doesn't have to be tied to level per se but for me it will be. I figure if the PCs become widely famous too quickly or too easily then it may lose its edge and become boring. 'Oh yeah, adoring fans. Whatever.'

Of course that opens up new possibilities of the PCs 'fans' following them around and generally being annoying.

 

[aurance]

Fame is tied to level. Or more properly, fame is tied to doing D&D adventurer stuff and doing D&D adventurer stuff inevitably gets you levels. In most campaigns, unless the PCs make a concerted and increasingly more laborious effort to cover their tracks every step of the way, the things they do get noticed more and more, in a roughly proportional relationship with their level.

 

[justanobody]

The following answers are based strictly on a story based POV.

I'm interested in your ideas on how famous characters are/should be in these three tiers.

Obviously there's no right answer which is why I'm interested in opinions.

What are the minimum levels of fame for characters in the three tiers?

1,11,21

What are the maximums?

10,20,30

I may be confused on these two questions.

Could a paragon tier character be completely unknown?

Sure could. The last survivor of a war between villages could easily be paragon tier. There is no guarantee that any other area would have heard of him.

Also consider that maybe someone doesn't go out seeking fame and hides in the shadows behind others.

Didn't you hear about the second kender that was always traveling with Tasslehoff? If a kender can go unnoticed in a group, then surely someone else could.

How about an epic character?

this would be a stretch for an epic character to be unknown somewhere. Someone has heard of them, and the word may have gotten around, but probably doesn't make the person very easily identifiable, unless they stay in one spot and the locals know exactly where he is.

Could a heroic tier character be known throughout the world?

Surely. Imagine the 0-level character be known for things, so why couldn't a 1st level character be known for things as well. Bob the Blacksmith has been heard of far and wide, why not Francis the Fighter?

As for how to work these things into a game, that would depend on where you want to stick then, but all are easily plausible.

 

[Snoweel]

Don't forget either, that characters' confidence and sense of self-importance will likely grow with their personal power.

So where a 1st level character probably wouldn't expect to be able to help the lord of the city-state with his problems and therefore probably wouldn't bother trying to gain audience with said ruler (probably not expecting to be granted an audience face-to-face), the 15th level character knows he can solve most, if not all of the king's problems, and knows he can wipe the floor with any, if not all, of the king's loyal guards/soldiers/knights.

This character feels he has the right to gain audience with such a powerful, influential NPC, as an equal at the very least, and is likely also able to meet the king face-to-face, whether the king wants such a meeting or not.

Obviously if the character really wants to remain anonymous amongst the wider population he can go out of his way. But unless he's very careful, the rumours will fly.

 

[Jack99]

It really is a freaking awesome book ain't it?

I was actually referring to two books (which both have a bard), and while one is made of pure awesome-sauce, I find the other one less than stellar, but others might easily love it. Either way, the bard has gone 4e, and no man should say otherwise out of ignorance..

Cheers

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

I have a Halfling Ranger in my group that loves to tell the tales of the parties adventures in whatever tavern they end up in.

They may only be 2nd level, but by the time they get back to where they started from plenty of people are going to have heard of them. If things continue, they're going to become very famous, very fast. Which does, of course, mean that I can have plenty of people looking to take them down...

 

[justanobody]

Obviously if the character really wants to remain anonymous amongst the wider population he can go out of his way. But unless he's very careful, the rumours will fly.

Exactly. The rumor mill may always be running, but it doesn't always treat every grain equally and some things may come out a little different each time they are put through it. So rumors can run rampant, and the truth and actual identity of someone CAN go unknown for a long time or in many place.

Fame will be left up to the intentions and actions of each character.